Meet Michael & Shanae Okpewho

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Michael & Shanae Okpewho. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Michael & Shanae, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?

We keep our creativity alive by making it collaborative, documented, and actionable. We believe the strongest ideas come from brainstorming, so we regularly create space to think ideas through together—building on each other’s perspectives rather than working individually.

We’re intentional about writing ideas down as they come up, even the ones that we aren’t ready to act on yet. Capturing ideas in a shared note allows us to revisit and refine them later, and we’ve found that some of the best solutions come from ideas that initially felt unfinished.

Most importantly, we act on our ideas. After brainstorming, we identify concrete next steps—whether that’s testing a concept, piloting a small change, or turning an idea into a real offering. Taking action is what keeps creativity alive long-term.

A good example of brainstorming sessions that turned into a real offering is our business, Next Level Arcade Rentals. We’ve positioned the business as a unique arcade rental experience in the Houston area, offering something that was not readily available locally. That creativity did not come from a single moment of inspiration—it came from collaborating, documenting ideas, and intentionally turning those ideas into something successful.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

Next Level Arcade Rentals is built on a strong and complementary partnership.

Michael brings the strategic foundation to the business. He is a Threat Intelligence and Cyber Defense Manager with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer/Information Systems and a Master’s degree in Business Administration. His focus is on operations, logistics, and long-term growth—ensuring systems are scalable, processes are efficient, and every event runs smoothly from start to finish. His behind-the-scenes leadership allows the business to grow thoughtfully while maintaining consistency and precision.

Shanae is the creative force behind Next Level Arcade Rentals. As a Clinical Informaticist with a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing and a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration, she combines creativity with structure and attention to detail. She leads the vision for each event—from selecting game combinations to designing visually engaging layouts and shaping the brand’s vibrant, energetic personality. Her healthcare background has instilled a strong sense of organization and care, which she now channels into curating memorable, guest-centered experiences.

Together, we understand the importance of clear communication, strong systems, and seamless execution. We apply that mindset to every aspect of the business, ensuring clients receive more than arcade machines—they receive a smooth, stress-free experience from the first conversation through booking, setup, and breakdown.
What we’re most proud of is the feedback we receive from our clients. Seeing guests light up when they walk into an event and experience our setup is incredibly rewarding. We’re known for being reliable, professional, and genuinely enjoyable to work with. At the end of the day, we’re not just providing games—we’re helping people create lasting memories.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Reflecting on our careers and our experience as business owners, three areas have been the most impactful are: systems thinking, communication, and disciplined execution—and those strengths are reinforced by the complementary backgrounds we bring to the business.

First, systems thinking has been foundational for both of us.
Shanae’s background in nursing and clinical informatics trained her to think in workflows—how processes, people, and technology interact to produce outcomes. Michael brings that same mindset from a different angle through his work in threat intelligence, cyber defense, and business strategy. Together, we approach problems by designing systems that prevent issues rather than reacting to them.
Advice: For those early in their journey, focus on understanding how things connect. Don’t just solve today’s problem—ask how to build a process that prevents it from happening again in the future.

Second, communication has been critical.
In Shanae’s career, she’s spent years translating between clinicians, technical teams, and leadership. Michael does the same between technical, operational, and business stakeholders. As business owners, clear communication shows up everywhere—from client expectations to internal planning. It’s what creates trust and keeps things running smoothly.
Advice: Learn to communicate clearly and often. Practice explaining ideas simply, confirm understanding, and don’t assume alignment. Strong communication is one of the fastest ways to stand out and grow.

Third, execution—turning ideas into action—has made the biggest difference.
Creativity matters, but follow-through is what creates results. Shanae focuses on capturing ideas, shaping the vision, and moving concepts forward, while Michael ensures those ideas are executed efficiently with the right structure, logistics, and long-term planning in place. That balance allows creativity to thrive without chaos.
Advice: Don’t wait for perfection. Start small, test ideas, learn from them, and iterate. Momentum and clarity come from action, not over-planning.

Together, our backgrounds have reinforced the same lesson: success comes from pairing creativity with structure, vision with systems, and ideas with execution. For anyone early in their journey, investing in these fundamentals will pay off across any career or business.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

Yes, we’re absolutely open to partnerships and collaborations! Right now, we’re especially interested in collaborating with event planners who value creativity, professionalism, and seamless execution. We work best with planners who are focused on creating memorable, high-quality experiences for their clients and who appreciate vendors that are reliable, organized, and easy to work with.

We see these collaborations as true partnerships—working together to elevate events through thoughtful game selections, well-designed layouts, and smooth logistics that complement the planner’s overall vision. Our goal is to be an extension of the planner’s team, not just a rental vendor.

If you’re an event planner or industry professional interested in collaborating, we’d love to connect. You can reach us through our website at nextlevelarcaderentals.com, or connect with us on social media via Instagram (@nextlevelarcaderentals) or Facebook (Next Level Arcade Rentals). We’re always excited to build relationships with creatives who are passionate about delivering unforgettable events.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nextlevelarcaderentals.com
• Instagram: @nextlevelarcaderentals
• Facebook: Next Level Arcade Rentals